Can anyone help with gestational diabetes management

[mum26plus]

Hi there am currently 26+ 3 and have just been diagnosed with gestational diabetes. I had this with one of my other pregnancies but didn't manage it with diet and ended up on insulin. The result was an induction and the labor from hell. I know my hospital has a diabetic clinic but when I spoke to them in tears yesterday they basically bullied me into going to their education class or I wouldn't be able to borrow their monitor. I am really upset about this, the needles are painful but the induction was awful and I was wondering if any MN had any advice on diet or any other ways to manage it before I end up on insulin again. Sorry for the long post

Hi

Sorry no advice, I ended up on insulin just wanted to wish you luck it no fun

Lisa x

Hi, I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes with my second pregnancy and I was lucky that because i was borderline I was able to control it with diet.

Basically I cut out ALL sugary drinks, did not eat ANY chocolate/sweets, no desserts/cake/biscuits covered in chocolate. Would have a plain one instead. If I did have any takeaways or go out for dinner I made sure that I tried to choose the least fatty/sweet thing on the menu and always included a veg dish or salad.

Before I got pregnant I was good with my diet, but did have the odd chocolate and drink but with my second pregnancy instead of just eating one strip of chocolate I would eat the whole bar and instead of having low/zero sugar drinks I would have the full fat/sugar ones.

It was VERY VERY hard especially when my husband, sister and dd1 are chocolate fiends but it did mean I would not end up on insulin.

I hope that has helped.

you have to be really really strict.

i was induced at 38weeks with dd3 due to GD, the induction was fine. are they gong to scan regulary.

mum26plus, I assume you mean one of those Bloodglucose monitors? I would think they would have to give you one of those anyway, I got mine through the Day-Antenatal Unit in Hospital and would have thought that anyone gets them automatically. You could call your m/w and see what she says or your GP...!
Maybe looking into the GI-Diet ( I think that is what it is called) would help, it will help you fidn the foods with the best Glucose index value, etc...!
Diet has to be really strict, but, some people will need more help of course!
Anyhow, checking your Bloodglucose levels is pretty vital...however, why do you not want to go to that Diabetis Educational class thing? I am sure they would be able to give you good tips on diet, etc...

Hi everyone and thanks for your replies. Misdee I have no idea what they are going to do with me yet I have an appntmnt on Monday and it's all been a bit of a blur but they seem to scan every visit I've had so far.I guessed it would be no more sweet things for me and was just wondering if anyone knew foods I should and shouldn't eat. I've heard about he GI diet but haven't a clue what it is. 3andnomore yes it's the glucose monitor that they are witholding unless I go to the education class, however I can buy one, quite a bit more expensive than hiring one, from the diabetes association. I have a dislike for the hospital diabetes clinic as when I found out I had diabetes they went into bully overdrive, despite being in tears on the phone to them. I must do this and I must do that NOW and if you don't...no monitor. I have 6 kids, 5 of whom I have to get off to school, live an hour and a half from the hospital and they wanted me there at 9 in the morning. I could have left my DP to organise them but I dearly wanted and NEEDED his support with me. Last time I was able to see an educator at my leisure and pick up the monitor then but not this time and from finding out I had diabetes to being bullied took an hour, me in tears all the while. Anyway I can go to the diabetes association and get the education I need in friendly helpful enviroment, for a price of course but I'm more than happy to do it.

I looked into this as I had the glucose tests last week - luckily my levels were ok - so I'm really sorry that you are going through this. On the GI Diet, you can get excellent books by a chap called Rick Gallop - cheap off amazon, or else from the library? - I did the diet a few years ago for weightloss reasons and it was absolutely brilliant, the principles are easy to follow and you don't feel hungry or miserable and weight just falls off. If you google "GI diet", a few pages from the Times come up, and these have the basics and some recipes.

Do you have a sympathetic GP/midwife who can talk to the diabetes clinic for you? and get some better service for you? you have a lot on your plate, they should be more understanding.

good luck

hm, if you want my Glucose monitor, you are more then welcome to it...am not planning any more Kids, so, hopefully will never need the darn thing anymore...still have loads of canulas, too and also still have some strips....if you are interested then e-mail me on
realjolie at yahoo dot de

3andnomore thanks for the really kind offer, unfortunately I'm in Oz and I just don't think I could afford the postage was really just after some basic help with the can eats and can't eats with diabetes, you know the things you think you can (peanuts) then discover you can't.

Timefortea, thanks for the tip I will certainly have a look at those now, just a question, I assume low GI foods are what I'm after is it? The Diabetes Association is much more understanding and helpful and I'm off there today to have a chat and buy the monitor I guess.

Thanks a lot everyone it's been great to have a teary moan and get some help feeling much better about it now. Still scared about induction after last time though.

look, I shall package it and see how much postage actually comes to and then we see

BYW, no reason to believe you will have to have an induction...you never know!

3andnomore, thanks for your positive thoughts, I'm kind of hoping I go early to avoid the possible induction, any suggestions for that I'll be trying all I've heard about, hot curries, long walks, lot's of sex even the old castor oil trick. The last time this happened the hospital was really panicky as they had just lost a friends baby (who was also diabetic) and they went into panic mode and induced everyone the day they were 40 weeks